The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communications and information systems essential to all operations. Royal Signals units provide the full telecommunications infrastructure for the Army wherever they operate in the world. The Corps has its own engineers, logistics experts and systems operators to run radio and area networks in the field. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems, providing command support to commanders and their headquarters, and conducting electronic warfare against enemy communications.
Contents
History
Origins
In 1870, 'C' Telegraph Troop, Royal Engineers, was founded under Captain Montague Lambert. The Troop was the first formal professional body of signallers in the British Army and its duty was to provide communications for a field army by means of visual signalling, mounted orderlies and telegraph. By 1871, 'C' Troop had expanded in size from 2 officers and 133 other ranks to 5 officers and 245 other ranks. In 1879, 'C' Troop first saw action during the Anglo-Zulu War. On 1 May 1884, 'C' Troop was amalgamated with the 22nd and 34th Companies, Royal Engineers, to form the Telegraph Battalion Royal Engineers; 'C' Troop formed the 1st Division (Field Force, based at Aldershot) while the two Royal Engineers companies formed the 2nd Division (Postal and Telegraph, based in London). Signalling was the responsibility of the Telegraph Battalion until 1908, when the Royal Engineers Signal Service was formed. As such, it provided communications during the First World War. It was about this time that motorcycle despatch riders and Wireless sets were introduced into service.
Royal Warrant
A Royal Warrant for the creation of a Corps of Signals was signed by the Secretary of State for War, Winston Churchill, on 28 June 1920. Six weeks later, King George V conferred the title Royal Corps of Signals.
Subsequent history
Before the Second World War, Royal Signals recruits were required to be at least 5 feet 2 inches tall. They initially enlisted for eight years with the colours and a further four years with the reserve. They trained at the Signal Training Centre at Catterick Camp and all personnel were taught to ride.
During the Second World War (1939–45), members of the Royal Corps of Signals served in every theatre of war. In one notable action, Corporal Thomas Waters of the 5th Parachute Brigade Signal Section was awarded the Military Medal for laying and maintaining the field telephone line under heavy enemy fire across the Caen Canal Bridge during the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
In the immediate post-war period, the Corps played a full and active part in numerous campaigns including Palestine, the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, Malaya and the Korean War. Until the end of the Cold War, the main body of the Corps was deployed with the British Army of the Rhine confronting Soviet Bloc forces, providing the British Forces' contribution to NATO with its communications infrastructure. Soldiers from the Royal Signals delivered communications in the Falklands War in 1982 and the first Gulf War in 1991.
In 1994, The Royal Corps of Signals moved its training regiments, 11th Signal Regiment (the Recruit Training Regiment) and 8th Signal Regiment (the Trade Training School), from Catterick Garrison to Blandford Camp.
In late 2012, 2nd (National Communications) Signal Brigade was disbanded. Soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals saw extensive service during the eight years of the Iraq War before withdrawal of troops in 2011, and the 13 years of the War in Afghanistan before it ended in 2014.
Under Army 2020 Refine a number of changes planned for the Corps were made public in 2013–14. A presentation by the Master of Signals indicated that 16 Signal Regiment would shift from 11 Signal Brigade to 1 Signal Brigade and focus on supporting communications for logistic headquarters. Similarly, 32 and 39 Signal Regiments were planned to shift to 1 Signal Brigade. 15 Signal Regiment would no longer be focused on Information Systems but would support 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, while 21 and 2 Signal Regiments were planned to support the 1st and second Strike Brigades respectively. Furthermore, a new regiment, 13th Signal Regiment, was planned to form up under 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade and work with 14th Signal Regiment on cyber and electromagnetic activity.
Personnel
Training and trades
Royal Signals officers receive general military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, followed by specialist communications training at the Royal School of Signals, Blandford Camp, Dorset. Other ranks are trained both as field soldiers and tradesmen. Their basic military training is delivered at the Army Training Regiment at Winchester or Army Training Centre Pirbright before undergoing trade training at 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment. There are currently six different trades available to other ranks, each of which is open to both men and women:
Information Services Engineer: trained in programming, database, web and app development, data communications and computer networks
Networks Engineer: trained in data communications, computer networks, military radio and trunk communications systems
Infrastructure Engineer: trained in installing and repairing fibre optic and copper voice and data networks in both internal and external environments
Power Engineer: trained to prepare, engineer and maintain complex Power Distribution Systems worldwide
Supply Chain Operative: trained in all aspects of logistics, including driving, warehouse management and accounting
Electronic Warfare & Signals Intelligence Operative: trained to intercept voice and data communications, to provide tactical electro-magnetic, cyber and signals intelligence on the battlefield and close tactical support to and advice to bomb disposal units
On selection for promotion to Sergeant, soldiers may choose to volunteer for selection to a Supervisory roster. Currently there are 4 Supervisor roles:
Yeoman of Signals – trained in the planning and deployment and management of military tactical/strategic communications networks;
Museum
The Royal Signals Museum is based at Blandford Camp in Dorset.
Dress and ceremonial
Tactical Recognition flash
The Corps wears a blue and white tactical recognition flash. This is worn horizontally on the right arm with the blue half charging forward.
Cap badge
The flag and cap badge feature Mercury (Latin: Mercurius), the winged messenger of the gods, who is referred to by members of the corps as "Jimmy". The origins of this nickname are unclear. According to one explanation, the badge is referred to as "Jimmy" because the image of Mercury was based on the late mediaeval bronze statue by the Italian sculptor Giambologna, and shortening his name over time reduced it to "Jimmy". The most widely accepted origin is a Royal Signals boxer, Jimmy Emblen, who was the British Army Champion in 1924 and represented the Royal Corps of Signals from 1921 to 1924. The first use so far recorded of "Jimmy" in this context is to be found in the (RE) Signal Service Training Camp magazine, The Wire, June 1920.
Lanyard
On No 2, No 4 and No 14 Dress, the Corps wears a dark blue lanyard on the right side signifying its early links with the Royal Engineers. The Airborne Signals Unit wears a drab green lanyard made from parachute cord.
Motto
The Corps motto is "certa cito", often translated from Latin as Swift and Sure .
Appointments
The Colonel-in-Chief is currently The Princess Royal.
Equipment
The Corps deploys and operates a broad range of specialist military and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) communications systems. The main categories are as follows:
Satellite ground terminals
Terrestrial trunk radio systems
Combat net radio systems
Computer networks
Specialist military applications (computer programmes)
Units
Brigades
There are now two signal brigades:
1st Signal Brigade: The Brigade Headquarters is co-located at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth, outside Gloucester, with HQ ARRC (NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps).
7th Signals Group: The Group Headquarters is at Picton Barracks, Bulford. The group supports the 3rd Division.
The structure of the Royal Signals changed under Army 2020. The listing below shows the present location of units and their future location.
Regular Army
1st Signal Regiment – at Swinton Barracks .
200 Signal Squadron
246 (Gurkha) Signal Squadron
Support Squadron
2nd Signal Regiment – at Imphal Barracks (moving to Catterick)
214 Signal Squadron
219 Signal Squadron
Support (Jorvik) Squadron
3rd (United Kingdom) Division Signal Regiment – Supporting 3rd (UK) Division HQ at Picton Barracks, Bulford Camp
202 Signal Squadron
228 (Armoured) Signal Squadron
249 (Gurkha) Signal Squadron
Support Squadron
10th Signal Regiment – at Basil Hill Barracks, Corsham
81 Signal Squadron (Army Reserve)
225 Signal Squadron, at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn
241 Signal Squadron, at Saint George's Barracks, Bicester Garrison
251 (United Kingdom Operations) Signal Squadron, at St Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison
11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment, Blandford Camp
13th Signal Regiment, at Blandford Camp
Army Reserve
The Royal Corps of Signals reserve component was severely reduced after the 2009 Review of Reserve Forces, losing many full regiments, with their respective squadrons mostly reduced to troops.
Central Volunteer Headquarters, Royal Corps of Signals, at Basil Hill Barracks, Corsham
254 (Specialist Group Information Services) Signal Squadron
Royal Corps of Signals Specialist Pool
Royal Corps of Signals Full Time Reserve Service
32nd Signal Regiment
Regimental Headquarters, in Glasgow
Northern Band of the Royal Corps of Signals, in Nottingham
2 (City of Dundee & Highland) Signal Squadron, in Dundee
40 (Northern Irish Horse) Squadron, in Belfast
51 (Scottish) Signal Squadron, in Edinburgh
52 (Lowland) Support Squadron, Glasgow
37th Signal Regiment
Regimental Headquarters, in Redditch
33 (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Squadron, in Liverpool
48 (City of Birmingham) Signal Squadron, in Birmingham
64 (City of Sheffield) Signal Squadron, in Sheffield
Cadet Forces
The Royal Corps of Signals is the sponsoring Corps for several Army Cadet Force and Combined Cadet Force units, such as in Blandford Forum, home to the Royal School of Signals.